COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION of 22 March 1999 concerning the discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (1984) (Sixth EDF) for the financial year 1997 (1999/231/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 206 thereof,

Having regard to the Third ACP-EEC Convention, signed at Lomé on 8 December 1984,

Having regard to Council Decision 86/283/EEC of 30 June 1986 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community (1),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement on the financing and administration of Community aid (2), signed in Brussels on 19 February 1985, as amended by Decision 86/281/EEC (3), and in particular Article 29(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of 11 November 1986 applicable to the Sixth European Development Fund (4), and in particular Articles 66 to 73 thereof,

Having examined the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the operations of the European Development Fund (1984) (Sixth EDF) as at 31 December 1997 and the Court of Auditors' report relating to the financial year 1997 together with the Commission's replies (5),

Whereas, pursuant to Article 29(3) of the Internal Agreement, the discharge for the management of the European Development Fund (1984) (Sixth EDF) must be given to the Commission by the European Parliament on a recommendation from the Council;

Whereas the overall implementation by the Commission of the operations of the European Development Fund (1984) (Sixth EDF) during the financial year 1997 has been satisfactory,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the European Parliament give the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the operations of the European Development Fund (1984) (Sixth EDF) for the financial year 1997.

Done at Brussels, 22 March 1999.

For the Council

The President

G. VERHEUGEN

(1) OJ L 175, 1. 7. 1986, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 86, 31. 3. 1986, p. 210.

(3) OJ L 178, 2. 7. 1986, p. 13.

(4) OJ L 325, 20. 11. 1986, p. 42.

(5) OJ C 349, 17. 11. 1998, p. 149.